NIYTR 31

Chapter 31

The Cripple

“…Your sister is hurt and bedridden right now, and what did you just say?”

“…”

“Don’t tell me the Marquess Consort turned you against Rosemary? I see that selfish streak in you too!”

The Duke of Stern always looked for blame elsewhere.

He couldn’t even fathom where the real fault lay.

“Father, that’s far too harsh toward Edelweiss—!”

Edelweiss stopped Tessen from stepping in with her hand.

“It wasn’t Uncle who turned us against each other—it was my sister.”

“…Rosemary? What do you mean—”

“You know the Boniel paper recently ran a story about me, don’t you? A piece slandering me as someone abandoned by you, even suggesting I might be hoping to break off the engagement.”

“……”

“I believe my sister made the anonymous tip. Tell me—how could I still worry about her after that?”

Shock filled the Duke of Stern’s eyes.

‘So, Rosemary.

You should’ve been more careful not to leave traces—didn’t know who might be watching, did you?

Wake up already.

Everyone’s waiting for you to open your eyes.’

“…There’s no way Rosemary would do that. You must’ve misunderstood something.”

After a long silence, the Duke finally spoke.

That Rosemary could never do such a thing.

“Even though someone saw her meeting with a Boniel newspaper employee the day before that article came out?”

The Duke trusted Rosemary—

and refused to believe a word Edelweiss said.

So Unshakable, Still

“Who was it?”

“That’s not what matters right now. What matters is that she used that anonymous tip to push me into a corner—”

“……”

“That it came from the sister I trusted and relied on—it was chilling and terrifying, and that’s why I didn’t want to come. But I knew it was the right thing to do.”

“……”

“I’ll wait until she wakes up. Just don’t expect too much from me.”

The Duke of Stern slowly lowered the hand that had been stroking Rosemary.

“Rosie… really…”

He looked utterly shaken.

“Edelweiss… is it really true? That Rosemary made that anonymous tip to the Boniel paper?”

Tessen asked in disbelief.

“What, do I sound like I’m lying?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what?”

“When she wakes up, I’ll make sure you get an apology. Just don’t get too worked up right now—it’s not good for you.”

Tessen’s abrupt shift in attitude from before was laughable.

If it had been any other time, he would’ve said nothing, whether Rosemary spread rumors anonymously or not.

“I said it clearly—I’ll handle it. Don’t get involved in my affairs.”

That’s when it happened.

A faint groan escaped Rosemary.

“Rosemary, are you awake? Do you recognize me?”

The Duke was quick to move to her side.

“…Dad.”

“Yes, thank goodness. You’re awake, that’s all that matters. The doctor said you might have memory loss from hitting your head—thank heavens that didn’t happen.”

Just for a moment, the Duke was overcome with relief at seeing Rosemary awake.

But then—

Tears streamed down her face as she stammered:

“My foot… something’s wrong. I can’t feel anything. I-I can’t move it.”

At the Duke’s frantic gesture, the physician stepped in and examined both of her ankles, rotating them with some force.

Despite the rough handling, Rosemary showed no signs of pain.

With a grim expression, the physician finally spoke.

“I’m afraid… the nerves in her ankle were completely damaged during the fall.”

“What do you mean? Nerve damage? It’s not just temporary?”

“With rehabilitation, she might regain some movement in the left ankle, but the right ankle… it may be impossible.”

The right ankle.

The same one Edelweiss had injured before.

“Even if she recovers, she’ll likely have to rely on a cane for the rest of her life.”

As the doctor finished, Rosemary’s face twisted in horror.

“Are you saying… I’ve become a cripple?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

Thwack!

Rosemary hurled a pillow at the doctor.

The blow landed squarely on his face, and he closed his eyes, swallowing his anger.

“No! No, that can’t be! How dare you say such nonsense! Who do you think I am!?”

She had lost all composure, consumed by panic at the word cripple.

The shock blinded her to everything else.

She had always acted kind, gentle, and considerate in front of the Duke.

But now, in a complete breakdown, her true self was laid bare.

“Rosemary, calm down! I’ll get you treated—whatever it costs, however long it takes, I’ll fix it!”

the Duke pleaded, gripping her shoulders.

You won’t be able to.

If it were that easy, Edelweiss wouldn’t have had all those sleepless nights from the pain in her ankle.

She had spent years searching for a way to heal her ankle. She had clung to hope until the very end.

But in the end, she gave up and accepted it.

“Dad, that can’t be right! Please call another doctor! Something’s wrong! How could I become a cripple just from falling down stairs!”

Rosemary burst into sobs, panting and weeping uncontrollably.

I didn’t even injure my left ankle, Edelweiss thought.

Even when other doctors examined Rosemary, they all said the same thing.

“Dad, what do I do now… How am I supposed to live like this? If I limp when I walk, everyone will laugh at me. They’ll look at me strangely and whisper behind my back.”

Clutching her hair, Rosemary collapsed into Duke Stern’s arms and wailed.

“I’m here for you. No one will dare do that to you. Don’t worry. I promise, it won’t happen.

I’ll protect you. So don’t cry anymore.”

The Duke wore a look of absolute heartbreak as he comforted her.

When people pointed fingers at me for being a cripple, you said nothing. But now you’re talking about protecting her? Telling her not to cry?

The same man, in the same situation, showed completely different reactions.

Edelweiss left the room, unable to stomach the touching reunion of father and daughter.

“Edelweiss, wait a second!”

Tessen hurried after her and grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t touch me!”

She slapped his hand away sharply. Red blotches spread across his skin instantly.

“Your little sister just became a cripple. Why don’t you stay by her side and worry about her? Why are you following me?”

“Edelweiss.”

“……”

“In the past and even now… you’re my only sister. Not once have I considered her family.”

Tessen’s gaze didn’t waver, as if he meant every word.

What good does saying that now do?

To Edelweiss, it felt like nothing but hypocrisy.

He had let go of her hand once and now had the nerve to reach for it again.

He never treated her like a sister to begin with.

“So what? Do you expect me to call you ‘brother’ again? Forget the past and smile like nothing happened?”

“What do I have to do… What would it take for you to forgive me?”

Tessen really did think little of her, didn’t he?

As if the years of pain could be erased by a few words or gestures.

“Even if I die, I’ll never forgive you. To me, you and the Duke are one and the same.”

“……”

“If you need a sister so badly, just start calling Rosemary your family now. Laugh and smile together. I’m not a Stern anymore.”

“………”

“And let me warn you. Don’t ever try something like this again.”

Edelweiss swallowed the rising anger as she walked out of the Duke’s residence.

She should’ve been glad to see Rosemary become a cripple.

That was why she’d come.

But somehow, the feeling wasn’t whole.

Because of Tessen?

No—

The more she thought about it, the more she realized it was Duke Stern.

She hated how he pitied Rosemary.

All the affection and attention Edelweiss had desperately wanted—

Rosemary always received effortlessly.

Back at the Blossomweaver estate, Edelweiss stepped out of the carriage and into the rain.

She made no effort to shield herself.

She had no strength left to walk forward.

It felt like she had become a cripple all over again.

Only this time, it wasn’t her—but Rosemary—who bore the pain.

So why did she feel so utterly miserable?

“Edel! Why are you standing in the rain like that!”

Far off in the distance, the Marquis of Blossomweaver came running toward her.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, but he didn’t care at all.

His gaze held only her.